Can it be that my cat is afraid of windows?????
By ctrymuziklvr
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
United States
February 8, 2008 7:43pm CST
I've had my Bigguy for about 3 weeks now and I still can't get him to come into the living room where I basically spend my whole day....and night! Ok, he was living in a basement for 6 months but I never thought to ask if there were windows in it I just assumed there were. There are 2 windows in the kitchen where Bigguy will not walk out of and I always keep the blinds closed in there and they are on the opposite side of the room from where he has chosen to stay. My living room has one window he probably doesn't notice because the tv is in front of it and 2 windows facing the front of the house. One of those windows is almost always open and if cars are going by they can be heard. The blinds are usually closed in here too and I have curtains hanging.
Anyway, tonight I decided to try something. Since I keep dry food in his bowl and put a smaller bowl with canned food there once in awhile (because he likes it too). I took a bowl of canned food and got him to follow me into the living room. He was very hesitant but I kept coaxing him and telling him to "come with mama"...(lol..(that's me!). He came in slowly but looking towards the window the whole time! I sat the bowl down next to an end table and he sat there and ate it but kept looking up at the window. I have a hope chest there that I put a small blanket on for him when I got him hoping it would be a place for him to enjoy the sun when it was out but that never happened! As soon as he had enough food he 'hightailed' it out of the living room and that was the end of that!!Could it be that he's afraid of the window? It's not what I would call noisy but when it's snowing or raining out you can hear the cars going by! What can it be any ideas?
5 people like this
10 responses
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
9 Feb 08
Cats like stable schedule and same place for food.
You can not change cats behavior. Keep food in the same place and try to feed your cat at the same time.
Poor thing may be afraid of windows and if so, it will take time for adjustment.
Maybe he was hit by the car in the past.
My younger dog is so afraid of noise, she is miserable when fireworks outside. She is with me since she was 8 weeks old, so she was not abused. Sometimes we don't know why they behave such way.
Poor little thing, he is still not sure if he is safe.
You can nit erase 6 months in 3 weeks...
Let me ask you one question:
Are there any other animals at your home? If yes, it may be a reason for acting like this.
Oh, I know, you want to have cute, curling cat...
Patience always pays...:)
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
10 Feb 08
Oh, please, don't underestimate you little friend, all animals are different.
My younger dog was big trouble maker when a puppy...I list few pairs of good shoes...she is the sweetest dog now...
Hugs!
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
9 Feb 08
Nope, Bigguy is the only animal I have and I don't think he will ever be a cute, curly lap kitty.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
9 Feb 08
It sure does sound like that's the case. Being in the basement for 6 months alone can do a lot of things to an animal. Think of it this way, being alone yourself in a room, total isolation such as this little guy had to endure, it had to do wonders to his little mind. Most likely it was totally soundless and windowless. It may take a while and a lot of patience and love, he'll eventually come around. Keep doing what you did with his food and in time he'll come to trust your judgement and you'll have a friend like you wanted all along. But know this too, YOU will be the ONLY one he'll ever trust if he ever gets around to trusting you, which he will, just give it time.
1 person likes this
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
9 Feb 08
That's fine if I'm the only one he trusts. I'm the only one ever here and it's always just him and me. My granddaughter did get to see him once and he did seem curious but did his usual and just went back to his spot in the kitchen...lol...
@lilaclady (28206)
• Australia
9 Feb 08
I guess he could be scared of the window if he has been living in a basement he just may not understan about glass maybe, and is frightened of the outside world, he will probably little by little conquer his fears, I hope so for you I know how nice it is to have your pet near you for company, I love it when mine comes in and sleeps on the couch, it gives some sort of peace I think.
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
9 Feb 08
couch...lol...I can't even get him in this room! I tried to get him on the couch one time and he obviously was having none of that.
@Riptide (2755)
• United States
9 Feb 08
First I like to say that I am very glad the little guy found a loving home with you. With a lot of patience and love,which you seem to have plenty of, he will come around in time I'm sure.
Who locked that poor little guy in a basement for 6 months? That is absolutely beyond cruel.
Well here is a website I hope helps you a little bit and keep us updated.
http://cats.about.com/od/behaviortraining/qt/catbehavior101.htm
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
9 Feb 08
I think that's it.Bigguy isn't used to windows or loud noises.I assume the basement was cold , dark and Quiet place.But then again, my sister's adult cats don't like loud noises.So it must be both the light of the window and the sounds of the cars going by.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Feb 08
Perhaps, ctry, he has had some kind of traumatic experience involving a window -such as his tail getting shut in one. There could be other reasons, but I still think if you are patient with him all will work out well in the end. Often it just needs a bit of time.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
9 Feb 08
I am going to support what The Hair Dresser says about the traffic, because I had it happen with my one cat when I moved. We adopted our first cat when we lived in San Diego, and I forced her to take a few trips back and forth across the country. When we settled down here we lived on a quiet residential street for 9 years. When we moved it was to Main Street. Inside the house the noise was not bad, but she would not go out to the front porch and did not like to be outside.We have four lanes of traffic that are sometimes busy, like at morning and noon and evening rush hour. We had noticed that she was uncomfortable in loud windy places when we first had her, and then most cats do not like traffic, but it became very clear to me that she did not like the traffic noises here at this house.
1 person likes this
@slickcut (8140)
• United States
9 Feb 08
he could be afraid of that window..he was in a basement for a long time and since you really don't know much about his background he may have been through a lot of things,you just never know...cats that you do not know their back ground could have at one time or another been abused in some way and he might have a lot of things going on..I think he is beginning to trust you though since you can talk him into coming into the living room..I really think Bidguy will become your friend in time,but like i said there is no telling what he has been through.I am sure that while he was in the basement for 6 months he had no human contact except to be fed...
1 person likes this
